Keeping things simple... usually works best.
Going GREEN with today's Tankless heaters reminds me very much of my "solar water heater " days. It sounds like the same "tall tales", the same "fuzzy math" on savings, and the same "fuzzy tax credits " to entice you into buying one.
l really love trees too, but folks, you are not going to save the planet by installing a tankless water heater.
It would be much, much wiser to take that money and install more insulation or better windows in your home. I know that you would see an immediate and dramatic savings doing this over a tankless water heater..
We can debate this topic until doomsday, but it is not going to change my mind until someone shows me hard facts and real numbers.......
I finally have some real numbers from consumer reports,,, Oct 08.
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/appliances/heating-cooling-and-air/water-heaters/tankless-water-heaters/overview/tankless-water-heaters-ov.htm
Comparing Fuel Costs
To estimate your water-heating bill, locate the price you pay for gas, electricity or propane on the charts below: (Based on general energy prices)
| Natural Gas |
Propane |
Electricity |
| Price per therm |
Yearly Cost |
Price per gallon |
Yearly Cost |
Price per kilowatt-hour |
Yearly Cost |
| $0.50 |
$136 |
$0.95 |
$283 |
$0.08 |
$390 |
| $0.60 |
$163 |
$1.05 |
$313 |
$0.10 |
$488 |
| $0.70 |
$190 |
$1.15 |
$343 |
$0.12 |
$585 |
http://www.aceee.org/consumerguide/waterheating.htm
In INDIANA , with our BITTER COLD -- ROCK HARD -- LIME --IRON -- MINERAL infested water, they CANNOT MAINTAIN the amount of hot water that you are used to over the long haul.
1. Odds are, you will never come close to break even. Even if you were to live in your home till the day they carry you out on a stretcher, you probably still wont be at break even! 
They cost about 5 times more for a "top of the line" good unit plus install costs. average about $3500 to $5500.
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When did I hear all this before? I wont fall for it again..
you can only get up to a max of $1500 from the government....next year ....back on your taxes. Remember you are still shelling out about $4500 now, for a promise of ....up to the max of $1500 rebate......... in diluted dollars taken off your tax bill next year. This " tax rebate" is not money you actually feel in your pocket today.
I'll gladly pay you double tomorrow for a hamburger today.
Remember Wimpy, their is no guarantee you will actually be satisfied with this product...next year.
2. Finding a good repair man for a tankless heater could be difficult. Finding the repair parts asap could also be trouble .
http://www.my3cents.com/showReview.cgi?id=48140
If its going to be a week for parts to arrive or the next appointment for the only good service man in 50 miles is next Friday, you are sunk....sunk...sunk
3. READ THE FINE PRINT BEFORE YOU BUY ONE--- every brand states in their very fine print...
The heating coil should be flushed out with a de-scaling solution and cleaned "periodically " by a qualified service tech to maintain good performance, if the heating coil limes up due to hard water, this VOIDS the warranty!!!
Before you buy one, ask what it will cost to clean the heating coil in your tankless water heater and how often should it be done??
Ask what will happen to your hot water FLOW RATE if the tankless unit is not de-limed "periodically".
How often does " periodically" really mean??
Will you attempt to "de-lime" your tankless unit yourself once, or twice per year??
Does $175 per trip 2 times a year to de-lime your tankless heater sound very economical??
Remember to factor in this "de-liming service" into that big energy savings!!
http://www.complaints.com/2007/march/1/Bosch_Aquastar_240_FX_tankless_water_heater_18190.htm
http://www.complaints.com/directory/2006/june/14/26.htm
4. Will you be able to run more than one shower at the same time?? Can it handle that or will you have to modify your life-style and take turns in the bath to accommodate the tankless unit??
Also, on many brands their is a water filter that needs changed out "periodically". Who pays for this?
5. In INDIANA you MUST have a water softener to get lime out of the water. You MUST maintain very low hardness level of your water. Under 11 parts hard is best ...Indpls city water is presently rated at 20 - 26 parts hard.
http://www.complaints.com/directory/2006/june/14/26.htm
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Here are more " hard numbers"
Jan. 05 Bradford White conducted extensive studies Read this article, it appears that the actual savings with a tankless heater is less than nominal. .
http://www.pmengineer.com/CDA/Archives/8cf9e86f7c298010VgnVCM100000f932a8c0____
Read this first link for " glowing testimonials" .
http://www.terrylove.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25461
http://www.askthebuilder.com/451_Tankless_Water_Heaters.shtml
http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/plumbing/msg0114073621251.html
Here are sites that do reviews on tankless units.
http://www.consumersearch.com/www/house_and_home/water-heaters/reviews.html
the BOSCH BRAND has a very poor rating...
http://www.epinions.com/Bosch_Natural_Gas_Tankless_Water_Heater_Aquastar_250SX/display_~reviews
http://www.epinions.com/Bosch_Assister_125B_NG_Natural_Gas_Tankless_Water_Heater/display_~reviews
----------------------------------------------------------------------Here are a few alternatives to a tankless water heater that are GREEN and more trouble free and energy efficient for about the same money
Eternal water heater. http://eternalwaterheater.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ud2G3vO-4c8
http://www.bradfordwhite.com/product...product_id=218
http://411plumb.com/bradford-white-residential-ultra-high-efficiency-gas-water-heater-review
And here is an original true tankless water heater that worked great in its day.......
1915 HUMPFREY "side arm" tankless water heater
